An oil train derailed, exploded, and spilled crude oil into the Kanawha River in West Virginia. According to Reuters, two nearby towns – Boomer Bottom and Adena Village – are being evacuated. At least one home was reportedly destroyed in the fire, and oil was burning on the Kanawha River this afternoon. Downstream water agencies have been ordered to shut off their intake valves, and local residents are being asked to conserve water for essential uses only.

“Putting a massive LNG terminal in the heart of the lower Columbia’s most popular commercial and recreational fishery undermines decades of work to protect fishing opportunities in the lower Columbia River,” said Bob Rees, Columbia River fishing guide and Executive Director of the Association of Northwest Steelheaders. “On top of this, our region has invested billions of dollars in restoring salmon habitat. And a lot of this money is focused in the Columbia River Estuary near Oregon LNG’s project. The contradictions beg for bold action from regulators to protect the Pacific Northwest’s fishing heritage.”